Chapitre 17: Chapter 17 : Floor 21 - Retrieve a Flower
If we wanted to describe the 21st floor of the tower, we could say without mistake that it is a breeding ground for Zygaena, belonging to the Yeon family, to harvest their flowers.
However, instead of seeing a beautiful azure water landscape, the 'Little Warriors' found themselves facing a disastrous scene, where many Rankers had fallen unconscious due to their severe injuries.
Seeing that this had happened on his territory, Yeong, already in an unstable state, exploded with rage and wanted to burn the person or people responsible for causing such chaos, especially in the floor that was his mother's favourite
But before he could head towards the powerful source of Shinsu, which he sensed inside the massive Zygaena, to take his revenge, a small man of Asian appearance, revealing himself to be the test administrator, appeared and bowed before the only son of the head of the Yeon family.
"Lord Yeong, I am Noma, and it is an honour to finally make your acquaintance. However, we are currently facing a significant problem..." said Noma with respect.
The son of Yirang then demanded an answer in a threatening tone: "Don't even try to hide the truth behind your pretty words! What is the situation?"
"I apologize, heir of Lady Yirang," the Ranker said, fearful of losing his position. "To answer your question, a High Ranker, accompanied by a guide, also of High Ranker level, infiltrated our floor to steal nothing less than the Zygaena flower..."
However, Yeong grew even more enraged upon hearing this and immediately interrupted the test administrator. "What! These individuals dare steal our family's treasure?! And how could an entire army of Rankers fail and end up in such a state? Don't you realize you're disgracing our great family!"
"I understand your anger, but you must understand that our opponent is a princess of Zahard. We didn't have the option to give our all, out of fear of injuring her and causing an incident so serious that it could bring trouble to your family, not only from Zahard's army but also from the Ha family, from which she comes," explained the test administrator.
"So this princess must be Yuri Ha, right? Because I don't know any other princess from the Ha family except her, " Yeong replied.
Nomu, seeing the 'Little Warriors' heading inside the large pink Shinheuh, began to panic. "Lord Yeong, she is a High Ranker, you have no chance against her! Moreover, you could be accused of attacking a princess outside the designated tests for such matters."
"I am the only son of a family head, I carry more weight than a replaceable princess, so I have no reason to be afraid. However, Noma, if I retrieve the flower, will you let us pass to the next floor?" said the irregular in a harsh tone.
Caught off guard, the Ranker nodded instinctively. "Yes, if you retrieve the flower, by chance, I will allow you to proceed to the 22nd floor, Lord Yeong."
Thus, the group took this opportunity to turn it into a special test, to assess their newfound strength. Shortly after, they infiltrated the body of the Zygaena to fight Yuri Ha.
It didn't take long to traverse the interior of the Shinheuh before they discovered the presence of numerous bodies on the ground, and a beautiful young woman with black hair, holding a black needle in her right hand. She seemed to be growing weary from all the waves of Rankers preventing her from leaving with the baby Zygaena she held in her left hand.
When she spotted them, she couldn't help but think that they were Rankers sent once again to go after her. So she braced herself. "Even after all your failures to take the flower from me, you keep coming after me with new members. At least I can congratulate you for being courageous and determined..."
However, in response, all she received was a massive wave of flames heading in her direction, which she dodged instinctively. The flames weren't just red; they also had hues of pink, purple, and white. This mastery of flames could only be achieved by Yirang Yeon. In his rage, Yeong had momentarily reached the full potential of his flames, for he was currently only focused on burning the person in front of him, ignoring the reasons for her having stolen the flower.
"Being a princess of Zahard doesn't give you all the rights!" he shouted angrily, trying again to launch an attack.
Seeing the power of her opponent's flames, the fighting spirit of the Princess of Zahard was reignited. She cracked her knuckles and flashed a wide smile. "Finally, they've sent me a Yeon... Tell me, what's your name?"
"Yeong Yeon." he replied in a harsh tone. "But that won't do you any good..."
Yuri's guide, Evan Edrok, was slightly panicked upon hearing this information, realizing the incident his princess was about to cause. If, in addition to stealing Zygaena, she were to seriously injure the only son of a family head, the consequences would be dire. "Lady Yuri, you shouldn't have done this. Give him back the flower, and let's find another valuable item to give to Lady Rapellista. We can't provoke a war between two great families over something so trivial!"
"Shut up, Evan! I don't care about provoking a war. I need valuable information from my sister-in-law." Yuri said in a tone full of anger, before laughing as she looked at Yeong. "Ha, ha, ha, so you're the famous irregular Urek told me so much about. I didn't think you'd be so cute, but hearing so many praises, even from Maschenny... Now I want to face you myself. So, if you want the flower, you know what you have to do."
The silver dwarf simply sighed. "I'll let you two fight, Princess Yuri, but since they are just regulars, I won't intervene."
"Thank you, Evan!" Yuri said cheerfully, drawing her black needle, one of the weapons from the 13 Month Series. "I just now realize that your group also includes a Princess of Zahard, and not just any princess, the famous sister of Hagipherione. I've rarely had the chance to face her, and I've always lost. So, fighting you, little princess of the Arie family will make for a nice training session."
"You may be a very powerful Princess of Zahard, but I'll show you that I'm more than just a copy of my sister, or merely a training opponent!" Rose said, drawing her blade.
But before the battle could begin, Aldwin asked one last question to the princess of the Ha family. "When you mentioned Rapellista, were you referring to Princess Jaina Rapellista Zahard?"
"Why is this information important?! We have to face off against a High Ranker!" Wangnan shouted.
A member of the Tu Perie family lowered his head before turning to his group and speaking with a voice full of emotion.
"I never had the chance to tell you, but I also have a sister who happens to be a Princess of Zahard, which is why I understand Rose so much. To explain, my full name is Jaina Aldwin Tu Perie, with Jaina being my mother's surname. I have a sister named Rapellista, who received Zahard's blood at a very young age. Because of her unique position as a princess, she has always been prioritized by our family head, who even granted her an Opera, the most powerful type of Lighthouse, second only to the family head's artefact, which allows her to see everything that happens in the tower. However, she quickly became like our family head, growing bored of everything that happened in the tower. So, I wanted to show her a place she had never seen before, which is why I'm climbing the tower, searching for the most beautiful places."
But just as he thought he saw looks of betrayal from his friends, he felt, on the contrary, a reassuring hand on his shoulder. It was Chun. "Don't worry, Aldwin," he said. "We all have secrets we keep close, so we're not going to get angry at you. However, we have something more important to focus on, we need to get that damn flower!"
[ Ha Family Shinsu Hadōken: Ha Yuri's Special Skill - Red Velvet Sword ]
Yuri grew tired of their endless discussions and prepared a red-and-black Shinsu orb in her hands. She released it as a massive, dense beam of Shinsu aimed at the group, but it was immediately dissipated in an explosion by Yirang's son. "I knew that fighting you wouldn't be as easy as I first thought..." said the princess of the Ha family.
The princess did not stop at this attack and charged toward Yeong at full speed, aiming to strike him with all her strength. However, unfortunately for her, her assault was disrupted by Aldwin, who had swapped her comrade's position with one of Wangnan's Shinsu bombs.
Despite the force of the explosion, the weak power of the regular with blond hair didn't even cause a scratch on the High Ranker. "You're going to cause me trouble. If I let Repellista's brother assist you, I'll take him out of the fight first."
[ Ha Yuri Style: Shinsu Boost - Nuclear Punch ]
Yuri had therefore blocked Aldwin in advance with Shinsu bubbles, before preparing a powerful technique. But once again, when she released all her power, her target teleported, making way for the baby Zygaena that she had previously held in her left hand.
The moment she spotted her treasure in front of her, she deactivated her Shinsu for a few seconds, creating an opening that the team's strategist had been waiting for from the start. "Since my defeat against Urek, I've trained relentlessly so I won't suffer such humiliation again in front of a powerful close-range fighter like you. That's when I discovered a few tricks to overcome my weaknesses and always assist my companions."
This opening was the perfect moment for the 'Little Warriors' to strike with their most powerful techniques, without worrying about harming their allies. However, this overwhelming Shinsu assault was in vain. Indeed, the princess of the Ha family, to protect herself, instinctively activated her weapon, the Black March, to dispel all their attacks under the monstrous power of its needle.
The battle continued and dragged on through countless exchanges of blows. As Yuri was exhausted from fighting so many Rankers, it gave a precious opportunity for Yeong and the rest of his group to rival her. The expert manipulation of Shinsu by the heir of Yirang, combined with the genius of his best friend Aldwin, prevented the Princess of Zahard from making any decisive moves, which was starting to frustrate her to the highest degree.
"I admit that you're strong for regulars. If I had been at my best, the result would be different, but I no longer have time to waste. If I don't want them to send another army of Rankers paid by your family, Little Yeon." Yuri said as she swung her sword, releasing a powerful wave of Shinsu to end the fight and leave with the baby Zygaena in her arms.
Fortunately, Yeong's overwhelming flames burned through the Shinsu of the attack, while blocking the path of the princess and her guide. "As if I'm going to let you leave when you still have the flower!"
"Tsk! I used to appreciate you, but you're starting to get seriously annoying! Well, it seems I have no choice, if I want to pass, I'll have to use one of my most powerful techniques. At least try to survive!" Yuri Ha said as she began to transform her Shinsu into red rose petals.
[ Ha Yuri Zahard Style: Shinsu Manipulation Technique - Rose Shower ]
The entire interior of the adult Zygaena was filled with Ha Yuri Zahard's Shinsu, which materialized as red roses, attacking Yeong's group. However, the heir of the Yeon family smiled and thought that it was very beneficial for him and his group that she dared to use such a powerful Shinsu technique with floral properties, as he could manipulate her attack at will and turn it back against her.
[ Yeon Yirang Shinsu Control Style - Floral Domain ]
The effect of this particular manipulation allowed Yeong to momentarily take control of the large roses, causing the princess and her guide to fall to the ground to retrieve the Zygaena baby. "It was foolish of you to attack me with that form of Shinsu because although my mother wasn't the inventor of these flames and merely inherited them from her master, she is the one who developed this style of Shinsu. And anyone who can wield this art with expertise can turn their opponent's attack back on them, if their control is weaker than theirs, as is the case right now."
"Argh! It's really annoying to lose like this, because of fatigue." said Yuri, getting up, frustrated.
But just as she was about to retrieve her treasure, she was interrupted by her guide. "Lady Yuri, we must leave immediately! I feel an immense presence outside that makes it hard for me to breathe just by observing it! Even Lady Adori doesn't possess such a density of Shinsu!"
"Yes, you seem to be right this time, Evan. I feel the same way I do when I'm facing Grandmother Yurin. So let's go find another treasure for my sister-in-law, instead of confronting this monster." replied the princess of the family, stepping aside, before casting one last glance at the 'Little Warriors' "Today was your victory, but next time, I will fight you with my full strength, so make sure to get stronger for that day!"
Once they had both left, Yura was in no way reassured by the mysterious individual. "Yeong, is it your mother that we all feel, who has come to punish Yuri?"
"Unfortunately, it's neither my mother nor Eurasia Blossom. However, it's very likely a family head who has come to meet us." Explained Yirang's son "Aldwin, Rose, do you recognize this presence or not?"
The two shook their heads, but Chun was growing visibly pale as he sensed a power that felt familiar. "Yeong, I know who it is. It's my hypocritical family head, Ari Han. I don't know what he's doing here, but we're in for a very rough time."
The group, having learned this information, finally exited the Zygaena to see many Rankers, all kneeling, facing a floating figure in the middle of the arena. This figure had long brown hair and held a white needle. This being was Ari Han, and he exerted tremendous pressure on all the individuals present on this floor.
"Grandfather, you should never have intervened. Without you, I could have gotten what I came for." said Yuri, angrily blocking the family head.
But the head of the Ari family, Ari, didn't even look at her. "Even though you strongly resemble Yurin and carry my blood, you're still an insect... I didn't come for you. Step aside, and consider yourself fortunate that I won't harm you for your disrespect, due to the affection Yurin feels for you despite your status as a regular..."
The moment Ari Han spotted the son of his former friend, he teleported right above him, leaving Yuri stunned "We meet at last, son of Yirang."
"Well, I thought the first family head I would have to face would be Traumerei, not you." Said Yeong, rather surprised.
"Zahard specifically asked him to meet with you, to calm your dangerous ambitions, but Traumerei refused. He didn't want to anger Yirang. Moreover, it seems he holds you in strangely high regard. Apparently, the egg you gave him managed to hatch a particularly powerful Shinheuh, thanks to your battle with Urek Mazino." said Ari Han.
"So what are you doing here?" asked Yeong. "Were you sent by Zahard in his place?"
"I wasn't sent by Zahard, I came of my own accord because I can't stand your existence, Yeong Yeon! Do you know why? Because you are a threat to the peace of this tower! I won't let a war break out because of you! Not only are you attracting Yirang and Blossom to your side, but when looking at your group, it's clear that you just want to provoke a revolution. Not only is your group made up of members from the 10 Great Families, but your team also includes the greatest disgrace to Zahard!" the irregular shouted in a threatening tone.
His speech about peace made Chun explode with anger: "Don't even dare talk about peace, because you always justify your horrible actions in the name of a supposedly higher good, when it is nothing of the sort."
"So you've even brought the failure of my family into your group. You're quite something, but that's the nature of an irregular, after all..." Han murmured before drawing his needle and releasing a portion of his Shinsu to completely immobilize the rest of Yeong's group. "I'm a pacifist, so I won't take your life, nor that of your teammates, but like with Enne, you will be sealed, so that the peace of this tower remains intact."
"I don't stand a chance against this head of the family, but I will never let him crush my dream! I'll have to use that technique my mother always forbade me from using, to create an event that will help me escape." He thought.
[ Yeon Yirang Shinsu Control Style - Nightmare Garden ]
It was a purely innate technique he had acquired when he was adopted by his mother, Yirang, who did not want him to use it because the attack plunged an entire floor into the hottest flames, destroying everything in its path. But Yeong had no choice and tried not to burn his opponent, but the entire floor, in hopes of making the administrator of that floor appear to put an end to the fight.
"You even know how to wield that terrifying technique of Yirang's, it almost makes me nostalgic, but I'll have to end our little duel immediately." said Ari Han, preparing one of his swordsmanship techniques.
[ Ari Style Needle Lethal Move - Empyrean Strike ]
Yeong had easily dodged his sword strike from a distance, but to his great shock, the blow still landed, causing so much damage to his body that he could barely stand. "What! How is this possible? I clearly dodged it!"
"Certainly, I'm not as powerful as my cousin Hon, nor capable of making attacks as impressive as Eduan's, but I am still one of the Great Warriors, and I am among the strongest, even if it's not immediately obvious… To explain why my attack hit you, it's because I didn't injure your present self, but your past, which is what's causing your current great wound. Now surrender, you have no chance, and I don't want to hurt you any further!" Han said, as a loud sound, resembling a howl, echoed in the air.
"I won't surrender now that my most powerful ally has just appeared!" Yeong said weakly, coughing.
The administrator of the 21st floor made his appearance and seemed extremely angry. "You dare, young irregular, to burn my entire floor just so that I intervene in your fight to help you against a head of a family? You are quite bold to think that we, the administrators, are mere toys you can play with! Normally, I should punish you severely, but since my friend, the 135th, seems to be waiting, I won't do anything and will help you this time, as an exception."
Ari Han was deeply angered by the change in situation brought about by the son of his former friend. "So, all those flames were just to provoke the administrator! I admit, you're clever, but I will never let you escape. Even without control over Shinsu, I will still defeat you."
"I won't let you stop the new generation from advancing, Han!" said a mysterious one-eyed man with violet hair, who had stopped the head of the family's needle with his bare hand.
The entire floor seemed to be trapped in time at the arrival of this powerful individual, whom the head of the Ari family recognized immediately. "Tperie! What are you doing here?! Do you want you and your family to become enemies of the Zahard Empire?!"
"Come on, Han, Zahard is the last person who would want me as an enemy. After all, if Gustang was the judge and historian of our group, I was the archivist. As you well know, knowledge is power. I could bring his empire down quickly if I revealed all our darkest secrets so that our many allies would finally choose to rebel against Zahard, or at least what's left of him." said Tperie with a wide smile.
Frustrated, knowing he had no chance of facing both an administrator and a head of family, Han chose to put away his needle and leave. "Tsk! So, like Blossom and Yirang, you're on his side too. Know this, Tperie, I will not abandon my plan to seal him. He is far too dangerous for everything we've built so far..."
"Han, what we built was nothing but illusions. It's time to face reality." said Tperie mysteriously, watching his friend walk away.
The head of the Tu Perie family immediately tended to Yeong. "Thank you, Tperie, for helping me, but if you've come in person, it's because you're expecting something from me, isn't that right?"
"You're perceptive. Indeed, I came to you and your group not only to protect you from Han but also to offer you special training. The higher you climb, the more you'll face High Rankers from the different factions of the Tower, and I won't always be there. So, you must master the true power of an irregular, which I will teach you, to survive and achieve your dream." explained Tperie, smiling with joy at meeting Yeong for the first time.
"If you allow me and my group to gain strength, then I can only accept your offer, Tperie!" replied the heir of the Yeon family.
Upon his acceptance, the powerful one-eyed man with violet hair smiled broadly and then teleported the 'Little Warriors' to his mothership, where they would undergo the harshest training to strengthen them all.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone